Monday, May 25, 2015

Whistleblower Dr. Steven Nissen on "Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue Ame...





This video tells you so very much about our healthcare and why it is broken, how the ACA tried to fix it but falls way short, how the pharmaceutical industry literally "owns" all of us and how that same pharmaceutical industry controls the truth about their medications to their benefit...not ours.  Thanks to youtube.com, democracynow, and Dr. Nissan for this amazing video and incredibly important information.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

More Pills Are Not The Answer - You Are

Everyone wants the quick fix!  Take a pill or some form of medicine.  Most people have no idea what they are taking but they just KNOW it's going to fix their diabetes and they can eat whatever in the heck they want/crave!  This type of thinking most assuredly brought about majority of type 2 diabetes in the first place! 

The beta cells of the pancreas where your insulin is created and secreted have a finite life.  Evolutionarily the pancreas did not have to deal with the exorbitant amount of carbohydrates that are present in the food system today.  Pre-modern human beings ate whatever they could kill or grow - and at the beginning there was no such thing as grain/wheat nor were there much of any carbohydrates.  Evolution lost out to progress and chemicals - it couldn't keep up with all the sugar dumps into the body.  It tries valiantly but it is no match for the formidable foe called carbohydrates.

Every time you eat carbs, every time you eat a piece of bread, a bowl of cereal, a baked potato, an ear of corn, a plate of spaghetti - your pancreas is working like those huge out-take pumps in New Orleans during Katrina to pump out enough insulin to clear all that glucose (aka sugar) out of your system.  

In addition to being overworked which then results in the beta cells being burned out at an earlier age, say like in your 40's, all that insulin is also literally bathing your cells constantly as it is looking for a way to get the glucose into those cells where it is supposedly needed.  Oh, it is needed alright but only a certain amount of glucose is required for each cell to operate properly.  

Each cell has many receptors.  These receptors are the gatekeepers for the cell.  When insulin brings the glucose to the individual cell, the insulin “knocks” on the gate.  The receptors rise and open to enable the insulin to deliver the glucose.  

However, cells that are being constantly bathed in insulin become immune to insulin’s knocking.  They refuse to open.  Like the story about the boy who cried wolf, the receptors no longer believe that they need to respond to the insulin’s call.  You are now insulin resistant.  

You created it.  You control it.  You can change it.  Y.O.U. is not spelled P.I.L.L.  

You control your insulin by eating a low carbohydrate diet and exercise.  Yep, people you actually need to do something besides taking pills.  Pills are like a band-aid on cancer.  You cover it up but the problem is still there.  That’s why your doctor may have told you that diabetes is a “progressive debilitating disease”  Ha!  Not!  

Caution:  If you decide with your doctor that you are going to go on a low carb diet and exercise you must be aware of the possibility of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.  Check with your doctor to especially if your taking insulin injections.  A low carb diet will require meager amounts of insulin as you progressively bring down the carbs you need to progressively bring down the amount of insulin you are taking.  This may also apply to oral anti-hyperglycemic medication.  Check with your doctor before beginning any change in your diet, exercise or medication.  This is nothing to fool around with - you need guidance.  

My husband came off of 43 units within 3 months of going on a low carb diet and exercise.  That was in 2003!  He has never looked back!  Within 9 months he lost 80 pounds and lost another 20 pounds a few years later for a total weight loss of 100 pounds.  Within one year, this man who had neuropathy so severe in both feet that limited his walking to 75 feet, was in two 5K races (walking) and finished.  

He is free of insulin, free of diuretics, free of pain medications.  He was taking Neurontin for the painful neuropathy and Naproxen for what the doctors told him was sciatica (we also cleared up his 20 years of "sciatica" with four simple piriformis exercises).  He is free of statin medication.  

  • He listened to what I had to tell him....Education
  • He did what he needed to do................Responsibility
  • He planned each day............................Implementation



  • Yes, low carb and not more and more pills. 
  • Yes, taking responsibility / control of your diabetes instead of it controlling you and your life. Yes, you can overcome the horrible effects diabetes. 
  • Yes, you will not have to worry about side effects of pills. 
  • Yes, you will have renewed energy that you at this moment you can not even imagine

  • No, diabetes is not a progressive debilitating disease no matter what you've have been told.
  • No, it is not too late to start.  My husband suffered from diabetes for nearly 25 years before we found Dr. Bernstein's book.
  • No, I don’t want to sell you anything - I want to share how my husband regained his energy and good health.  


My husband and I have been married 54 years.  He turned 76 years old on the 8th of February.
It’s not too late for you.


God bless you all.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Dick and I are both doing great.  Dick hit a milestone birthday this past February when he turned 75!  The fact that at 75 years old Dick is enjoying his life full of energy and vitality when in 2002 he was morbidly obese, on insulin, couldn't walk except for short distances, etc., I believe is a true testament to our program. 

I'd like to share just one of the many stories  -- Sharon Schneider's story.  Sharon gave us permission to use her name and her story.    

Sharon is amazing.  In the Spring of 2012, she was devastated because she lost her husband to diabetes.  Shortly after losing her husband, she was shocked to learn that she too has diabetes.  She saw the PSCD Parma Community Education Flyer and signed up for our classes of October 2012.  I remember that she cried often during those classes.  

In March of 2013 Sharon returned to our class and told us that she had lost 50 pounds and her fasting blood sugar numbers had dropped significantly.  She showed us her lab reports and pointed out where her doctor had written on the report: "Congratulations, Sharon.  Keep up the good work."


Sharon came back to our class in October of 2013 this time as our guest.  She spoke to that class about her experiences.  Sharon was kind enough to mention that if it had not been for Mary and Dick and these classes she would still be ill and possibly wind up like her beloved husband.  She reported that  at this point she's lost 70 pounds and her doctors are thrilled with her progress.  Her Cleveland Clinic doctor asked her how she did this and Sharon said that her reply was, "Have you ever heard of Mary, The Diabetes Lady?"  :)  

Sharon and all people like Sharon who are suffering the horrible effects of diabetes are why Dick and I present these classes. Our number one goal is for people to become "empowered patients who are proactive partners with their physicians in their own healthcare."

Sunday, March 16, 2014

FAA Aviation Physician Dr. Unger Confirms Memory Deficits Caused by Statins

Sunday, March 16, 2013  on CNN's show "State of the Union", Candy Crowley interviewed Dr. Christopher Unger.  Dr. Unger is an FAA designated physician which means that he is chosen by the FAA as a physician qualified to examine pilots to see if they are qualified physically, mentally and emotionally to fly the huge jet airliners that carry hundreds of people.

Ms. Crowley asked Dr. Unger what constitutes passing an exam here and abroad.  She went on to question what could have happened to these pilots on the missing Malaysian Airliner because when their neighbors and friends were questioned they told investigators that these men were really nice guys who seemed to be in a really nice place, all of those sorts of things.  So how do we know that we have a pilot in trouble.  She mentioned that we've had pilots in the U.S. who when it was detected that they had some troubles, they were taken off the planes.

Dr. response was something I never expected.  His response confirmed so much of what I ve been saying about statins!  He said, "Candy let me give you two examples:
One example is medicines we use to lower cholesterol.  These may be among the most prescribed medicines in the world.  These medicines give rise to memory deficits, they give rise to transient global amnesia, and we're sort of naive of that especially when they might be mixed with something else.

This physician FAA approved physician is telling us that cholesterol lowering drugs give rise to amnesia and to transient global amnesia!!!!

http://cnn.it/1g18uAZ


Sunday, January 26, 2014

Basic Cell Function Blocked by Statin Drugs!

Amazing!  Isn't it amazing how we are led to believe that cholesterol is soooo harmful and that we've got to bring down those numbers at all costs!  Even if it cost you your memory, your muscles, your life.

Cholesterol is all important building block of life.  The brain accounts for 2% of your body but it uses 25% of all cholesterol.

Statins block the cholesterol making enzyme of the body - HMG-CoA Reductase.  Look at the definition of statins from the Mayo Clinic web site:  "Statins are drugs that can lower your cholesterol.  They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol."  Let's look at that last line again:  "They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol."

That "substance" is HMG-CoA Reductase Enzyme. Yikes!  What they don't say is all the other vital enzymes and substances are cut off because of the statin there is little to no HMG-CoA Reductase Enzyme being created.  Little things...like CoQ10 a naturally produced antioxidant.

Let's check again with the Mayo Clinic's web site regarding CoQ10:  "Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that is made in the human body.  CoQ10 is needed for basic cell function.  CoQ10 levels decrease with age and may be low in people with cancer, certain genetic disorders, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophies and Parkinson's disease.  Some prescription drugs may also lower CoQ10 levels."  The "prescription drugs" are statin drugs!   They just don't mention the "statin" word.

If you have never had a heart attack and are not in danger of having a heart attack, you should check with your doctor especially if you are on statin drugs.  According to Dr. Bowden's book, "The Great Cholesterol Myth"  you should not be on a statin.  No woman should be on statins.  No children should be on statins.

Note: For you Dr. Oz fans The Great Cholesterol Myth was reviewed on Dr. Oz's show with both authors on the show of TGCM.  Dr. Oz changed his mind about cholesterol lowering drugs and agreed with Drs. Bowden and Sinatra.

Be an Empowered Patient!  Know what you're taking and why!  Statins make a ton of money for Big Pharma but they could mean a ton of trouble for you.

The information on this blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice or services.  Mary is not a physician, dietitian nor does she hold any medical degree or license.  The information we are sharing on this blog is based on our experience with type 2 diabetes.  This blog is intended as a wake up call.  It should be used only for education and information and as a basis for discussion with a doctor.  The information here is for patients to read and become more informed.  The information here is not intended nor should it be construed or used to diagnose or treat any illness or condition.  We strongly urge you to consult with your physician regarding any medical questions or concerns.  Always consult with a doctor before making any changes to  medication or lifestyle.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Let's Talk Statins...Ugh!


I am opposed to the arbitrary prescribing of statins by physicians who follow the American Diabetes Association (ADA) protocol that all diabetics should be on statins.  If you have ever taken the time to read the disclaimer/warning that comes with these medications, you have some sense of why I am opposed to them.  

Let me give you a recent personal story.  
A little background first:  My husband has been a T2D for over 30 years.  In 2002 he went on insulin.  He started at 5 units and  18 months later he was on 43 units of insulin.  His weight ballooned up to 280 pounds, he could not walk over 75 feet because of the severe painful neuropathy in his feet, he was always tired and irritable, had severe sleep apnea and profuse night sweats (he had to put a bath towel on his pillow every night).  Medication use kept going up and quality of life kept going down.  His life and our relationship was in going down hill on the fast track. 

One of the medications that he was on and had been on for a long time was a statin drug - Lipitor.  Expensive but necessary we were told.  

In 2003, through much study and research, I created a program that would enable him to lose weight and feel better.  On our program he came off of insulin within 3 months, lost 80 pounds within the first 9 months (and lost another 20 pounds last Fall for a total weight loss of 100 pounds).  Sleep apnea was gone.  Snoring was gone.  Night sweats were gone!  Neuropathy was gone!  Within a year he walked in 2 5K races and finished!  HA1c lowered from a high of 11 to 6.5%
He came off of pain medication.  He came off of diuretics.  He came off of insulin.  He did not come off of the statin medication.

In 2011, LIpitor went generic.  We thought we'd get a break on the price.  Not so fast.  Lipitor had a 6 month grace period where they could charge us nearly the same for the generic brand as for name brand.

Dick's doctor switched him from Lipitor to Crestor.  Within a matter of a few weeks on the Crestor, I noticed that Dick's fasting blood sugars (FBS) were rising.  i couldn't figure it out.  What in the heck was going on?  He was eating the same diet we have been on for ten years.  I haven't seen him cheating on the diet.  I was scratching my head to find an answer.

Not only were his FBS going up but he was complaining of constipation.  Something he NEVER suffered.  I began to worry because his mom died from colon cancer and Dick had been postponing his now overdue colonoscopy.  

Finally, it dawned on me!  The doctor changed his medication from Liptor to Crestor.  I went to work researching that statin.  There is not enough room on this blog to list all the side affects of Crestor. 

 My research revealed that Crestor can raise your blood sugars.  I discovered that especially for women aged 50 to 79, if you don't have diabetes, there is 48% chance you will develop diabetes when taking not only this drug, Crestor, but any statin drug!  Yikes!  (Reference: Study done by University of Massachusetts and released in the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine" as part of the U.S. government's Women's Health Initiative).

If you do have diabetes, Crestor in particular and statins in general can raise your blood sugars by up to 9%!  

When I told Dick he wanted to come off of the Crestor immediately.  I told him that you can not just stop taking this medication without your doctor's approval.  If you stop the medication suddenly, you are at risk for a heart attack.  So, he decided that he would cut the medication in half. (PLEASE NOTE:  I do not advise anyone to tamper with any of  their medications unless they have their doctor's approval.) 

In early December he began taking half the Crestor.  By Christmas his blood sugars came down to a more normal range for him of 95 to 100 in the morning.  

We saw his doctor 3 months later.  We waited until he read us the lab results for Dick's blood test.  He was pleased that all was going very well.  Then Dick told him about his Crestor issue.  The doctor asked Dick when he started taking half of the pill because according to our doctor, it would take a couple of weeks to show any changes in his blood work.  We quietly smiled to ourselves as we told the doctor that it was December (a little over 3 months ago) when we made this change.

We wanted the doctor to put Dick on a lower dose of statin or come off statin altogether.  The doctor balked at coming off the statin and he was not pleased about putting Dick on something other than a Crestor or Lipitor.  He felt that Dick's blood work would show a definite increase in LDL's if he were not on a more powerful statin medication.  

I offered a suggestion of putting Dick on the lower dose statin for two months.  At the end of those two months, we would return for another blood test to see if there were any untoward changes.  The doctor thought that would certainly work.

After 2 months on the pravastatin, Dick went for his blood work.  The blood lipid profile was right on target.  No issues whatsoever - or so we all thought.

What the doctor and I didn't know was that within 2 weeks of taking this new statin, Dick started to get achy muscles.  Within 4 weeks the muscles aches when from slightly annoying to nearly debilitating pain.

It all came to a head when we went to the gym which he had been avoiding for few weeks.  He typically walked our track (which is 1/12 of a mile) for 24 laps in like 0:1:30 per lap.  On this particular visit to the gym,  I passed him a few times and noticed how slow he was going.   Then I stopped to walk with him and he said that this was his 4th and last lap!  That it had taken him 0:2:40 to complete the third lap!

I called the doctor when we got home.  My concern was rhabdomyolyisis.  A condition where the muscle breaks down breaks down and the protein from the muscle fiber contents are released into the blood stream. The myoglobin (muscle fiber) is harmful to the kidneys and can result in major kidney issues including kidney failure!  He could wind up on dialysis!

The doctor didn't think it was a problem but he switched Dick to the now available generic Lipitor statin.  

Within a few days, I could see that he was not getting any better.  He looked like a flower that hadn't had any water for days and was drooping horribly.  The call to the doctor didn't bring any satisfaction.  He didn't believe the issue warranted a blood test.  

We were scheduled to go on vacation the following week to one of our state parks cabins which was about an hour and half drive from home.  We reluctantly decided to go with the hopes that Dick would soon feel better.  I got busy preparing for the vacation and let the issue of Dick's failing energy levels and achy muscles go for another couple of days.

After a few days at the cabin, I watched as he turned down the offer of golf from the other guys with our group.  He was walking haltingly.   I could tell he was hurting but the doctor said he didn't believe it warranted a blood test and I thought maybe I was just being overly cautious.

I woke up one morning in the middle of the week and Dick was in the room standing near the base of our bed.  He didn't look good...at all.  I asked him what was going on.  He was near tears as he explained to me that he got up during the night because he was in so much muscle pain that he couldn't sleep.  He said that he thought that he would go into the living room and watch some TV and that maybe he would fall asleep there.  However,  he said that when he came to bed last night, he was feeling so poorly that he dropped his clothes on the floor and crawled into bed.  When he couldn't sleep and wanted to go into the living room, he tried to pick up his clothes from the floor but could not do it.  The muscle pain was so intense that he could not bend down to get his clothes!  He told me that he tried twice but simply could not do it.

That was literally the last straw!!  I knew I would be calling the doctor as soon as their office opened.

This time I insisted that I talked to the doctor personally.  I didn't ask him to order the CPK blood test, I told him to order the test.  I told him that we were on vacation and that we would come home just for this test.  He should order it so that when we arrived the lab would be waiting.

Our doctor finally agreed that we need to get that blood test done if nothing else to reassure us that everything was alright and that Dick would recover from this statin reaction.

The blood results were negative.  Dick and I were relieved.  When I spoke to the doctor to get the results, he said that he was concerned because Dick should have been feeling better right after he switched from the provastatin he was on to the generic Lipitor.  Because Dick did not feel any improvement, the doctor told us to eliminate the statins completely. 

Dick suffered the effects of statins for another 6 months!  Within a week of coming off all the statins, Dick's vitality and energy reappeared but his muscles still ached but he assumed that would clear up quickly...it took 6 months!  

His fasting blood sugars actually went down even lower than when he was on the statins.  His constipation issues are gone!

I wonder how many people are on a statin, have muscle aches in their thighs and buttocks and just think they either pulled a muscle or that they are getting older.  I wonder how many never even mention it to their doctor.  Dick never mentioned it to me until I could actually see what was happening with him.  

Muscle aches and especially muscle pain is a serious side affect of statins.  These kinds of reactions should not - must not be ignored by either the patient or the doctor.

According to many reports that I've read, long ago the ADA decreed that all diabetics should be on statins.  Hmmm, do you know the profits Pfizer made from JUST Lipitor in the past few years?  In May, 2010 according to  Reuters online  "Sales of its Lipitor cholesterol fighter edged 1 percent higher to $2.76 billion, above the consensus estimate of $2.64 billion of eight analysts." (http://reut.rs/LEQfgW)  BILLION with a "B".

Dr. Richard Bernstein, "Diabetes Solution" recently said on his webinar that he has only 2 of his diabetic patients on a statin.  Of those 2 patients, according to Dr. Bernstein, one had a previous heart attack before coming to Dr. B and the other patient had high calcium scores which he felt warranted a statin intervention.

Bottom line of this blog:  If you are on a statin, question, question, question your doctor as to WHY?  Pay attention to your body - it is your best guide!  If you're not feeling well, if your health or daily experiences change - suspect your medications first!  Go online and do your research on quality and reliable web sites.  

Then question your doctor and your pharmacist.  Make sure they give you answers that you can understand and that make sense to you.  If you don't feel better within a short period of time, question them again until changes are made and you have optimum wellness.

As you may have guessed by now, I am personally against an across the board protocol that dictates that ALL diabetics taking statin drugs just because they are diabetics!  That is my opinion after all the research I have done on that class of medication.  You must ask your doctor what is right for you.  Gather information and go into your doctor appointment as an empowered patient.
Your doctor will respect you for it.
You can check out our web site at http://www.marythediabeteslady.com

The information on this blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice or services.  Mary is not a physician, dietitian nor does she hold any medical degree or license.  The information we are sharing on this blog is based on our experience with type 2 diabetes.  This blog is intended as a wake up call.  It should be used only for education and information and as a basis for discussion with a doctor.  The information here is for patients to read and become more informed.  The information here is not intended nor should it be construed or used to diagnose or treat any illness or condition.  We strongly urge you to consult with your physician regarding any medical questions or concerns.  Always consult with a doctor before making any changes to  medication or lifestyle.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

How To "Buy" Your Doctor's Services!


One of the best things I learned during my brief stay in nursing school was that medicine is no different than any other service or commodity that you buy.  When you go to a doctor you must realize that it's the same thing as going to the grocery or department store.  If you don't like what they are selling, you go somewhere else.  

If your doctor is not giving you the answers you need and/or understand or is not paying proper attention to your diabetes (i.e, checking your feet at every visit) that you should be receiving and/or passing off your concerns as unimportant or trivial...then it is time for you to change doctors.  
Before you  make any change however, you owe it to yourself and to other patients who may come to this doctor,  to approach him/her with a calm but confident attitude.   Your doctor should know that you are not pleased with his/her lack of communication, attention and quality of care you feel you need.  Make it clear that in order for you to stay with him/her as your healthcare provider, you need to know that things will change.  

One of the things that is a top priority in our program on How We Beat Diabetes is to get diabetics to understand that they need to take responsibility for their disease.  They need to become an empowered patient.  They need to become a proactive partner and work with their physician in their own healthcare.  You do that by becoming an educated diabetic.  You do that by learning what questions to ask and what answers you should expect to hear.

When your doctor prescribes a new medication; know why, know what, if any, alternatives there are to that medication, what issue that medication will solve or ameliorate, know the side effects of that medication, know what you need to do to come off that medication -- and if coming off of that medication at some point is even feasible.

Understand and realize that far too many doctors don't really know how to manage diabetes.  It is a chronic disease that truly requires good management over the long term on the part of the doctor and the patient.  But it is a disease that can be controlled if the patient and the doctor actively engage in good management practices.  

It is YOUR life for goodness sake!  Take your healthcare seriously.   You absolutely should NEVER walk out of your doctors office without all the answers you need on how you can make improvements in your health.  

As Dr. Phil says, "You teach people how to treat you."  That is true of family, friends and physicians.  

Read Dr. Richard Bernstein's book, "Diabetes Solution" and/or get our 2 set DVDs on How We Beat Diabetes.  These two items are filled with information.  They will give you a great start on how to become an empowered patient.  

Write your questions for the doctor down on a note pad. And during your next visit to the doctor, pull out your notes and ask your questions.   Your doctor should give you answers you can fully understand.  If you don't it's time to change doctors.

Love and Peace
Mary, The Diabetes Lady